Animal-trap.



y No. 665,907. Patented lan. l5, Ism.

w. c. HooKEn.

ANIMAL' TRAP.

(No Model.)

`). /6' /0 I lr I 1 g NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM O. HOOKER, OF ABINGDON, ILLINOIS.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming 10a-rt of Letters Patent No. 665,907, dated January 15, 1901.

Application filed November 5, 1900. Serial No. 35,558. (No model-l To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. HOOKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Abingdon, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and usetulAnimal-Trap, of which the following is a speciication.

The invention relates to improvements in animal-traps.

One object of the present invention is to improve the construction of animal-traps and to provide an exceedingly simple and inexpensive one which will be particularly adapted to be arranged between boxes and otherl articles and the wall or analogous places and which will be exceedingly sensitive and adapted to operate within the space occupied by it.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trap of this character which may be easily set and which will be adapted to be baited or to be operated by an animal passing over it.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trap constructed in accordance with this invention and shown set. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the support.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a rectangular base designed to be constructed of a thin piece of wood or other suitable material and having secured to its rear end a support 2, consisting of a central approximately inverted-V-shaped portion 3 and laterallyextending L-shaped arms 4. The horizontal portions of the L-shaped arms extend outward from the sides of the V-shaped portion of the support and are provided with perforations for the reception of suitable fastening devices for securing the support to the rear end of the base. The vertical portions of the L-shaped arms 4 are provided with perforations 5 for the reception of a transverse pintle 6, which also passes through a recess 8 at its front for the reception of a spring-actuated jaw 9, which is hinged to the base by a transverse pintle 6 and which is provided with spring-coils 10, arranged on the transverse pintle and located at opposite sides of the central portion of the support. The spring-actuated jaw is substantially U- shaped, and the spring-coils are provided at their inner ends with arms l1, which bear against the upper face of the base, whereby when the jaw is swung upward from the base to the recess `or seat of the support to set the trap the spring-coils will be placed under tension.

The spring-actuated jaw when arranged as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is engaged by the upper end of a trigger 12, pivoted near its upper end, adjacent to its rear edge, by a transverse rivet 13 or other suitable fastening device and arranged between the sides of the V-shaped portion of the support, and the upper end of the trigger 12 is provided with a recess 14. The front side of the recess 14 terminates short of the rear side, so that only a slight rearward movement of the trigger is necessary to release the spring-actuated jaw. The trigger is swung forward to the position shown in Fig. 2 to engage it with the springactuated jaw, and it is retained in such position by a bait treadle or lever 15, pivoted near its rear end to the base by the transverse pintle and arranged between the sides of the central V-shaped portion of the support. The rear portion of the bait treadle or lever is provided with a transverse perforation for the reception of the pintle,iand ithas a shoulder 16, arranged at its upper face in advance of the pintle for enga-ging the lower end of the trigger. The shoulder 16 is preferably formed by a staple, and the trigger tapers toward its lower end, and as its center of gravity is in advance of the pivot 13 when the parts4 are arranged as shown in Fig. 2 it will swing rearward by gravity and by the pressure of thespring-actuated jaw when the bait treadle or lever is depressed and only a slight movement of the trigger is necessary to release the said jaw. The rear portion of the bait-treadle is provided at its upper face with a longitudinal groove 17, forming a space to receive the lower end of the trigger to prevent the latter from catching on the treadle. The bait-treadle is provided at its front portion with a suitable recess or cavity 18 for the reception of a suitable bait, and the front end of the base is provided with a recess to enable the movable jaw tov be readily grasped.

The trap is particularly adapted to be placed in narrow spaces between a wall and boxes or otherobjects and analogous places, and it is adapted to operate within the space occupied by it.

It will be seen that the trap is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is strong and durable, and that it is exceedingly sensitiveand is' adapted to be 'sprung by the slightest pressure on the baittreadle. The trap may be easily set, and when placed in an inverted position While setting it the trigger will be automatically engaged by the treadle.

1. A trap comprising a base, an approximately V-shaped support provided at the lower ends of its sides with approximately L- shaped arms secured to the support, a transverse pintle passing through perforations of the arms and the sides of the support, a spring-actuated jaw hinged to the base by the pintle, a bait treadle or lever mounted on the pintle and arranged between the sides of the support, and a trigger pivoted between the sides of the support and arranged to be engaged bythe bait treadle or lever and adapted to hold the jaw, substantially as described.

2. A trap comprising a base, a support mounted on the base and provided at its top with a front recess for-ming a seat, a trigger pivoted on the support adjacent to the said recess and provided with a recess, a springactuated jaw arranged to be engaged by the trigger and adapted to t in the recess thereof, and a bait treadle or lever for engaging the trigger, substantially as described.

3. A trap comprising,r a base, an approximately V-shaped support provided with L- shaped arms, a pintle passing through the support and through the arms, a spring-actuated jaw provided with coils arranged on the pintle between the sides of the support and the outer portions of the arms, a treadle mounted oir the pintle and arranged between the sides of the support, and a trigger pivotally mounted in the support, substantially as described.

4. A trap comprising a base, a support, a spring-actuated jaw, a treadle mounted on the support and adapted to receive a suitable bait, said treadle being provided with a stop or shoulder and having a longitudinal groove in rear of the said stop or shoulder, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C.' HOOKER.

Witnesses:

W. H. ROBINSON, W. A. DETRICK. 

